Systems and Methods for Collecting, Displaying, Analyzing, Recording, and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring and Control Data

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for enabling an augmented reality device to easily collect, analyze, transmit, and act on wireless information transmitted from various instruments on hydrocarbon production and pipeline skids. The augmented reality device preferentially presents and records available data streams from the various instruments on the hydrocarbon production and pipeline skids in an augmented reality user interface. The augmented reality user interface preferentially presents such data streams as readings from the various instruments in an easy-to-read, color-coded display, wherein the color coding relates to various in-tolerance and out-of-tolerance ranges related to each of the various instruments.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior filed co-pending U.S.Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 16/031,774, filed on Jul. 10, 2018,entitled “Systems and Methods for Collecting, Displaying, Analyzing,Recording, and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring andControl Data,” which is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit ofprior filed co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.15/069,937, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, entitled “Systems and Methods forCollecting, Analyzing, Recording and Transmitting Fluid HydrocarbonProduction Monitoring and Control Data,” which issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,021,466 on Jul. 10, 2018, and which is a continuation-in-part ofprior filed U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/091,323,filed on Nov. 26, 2013, entitled “Systems and Methods for Collecting,Analyzing, Recording and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon ProductionMonitoring and Control Data,” which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,285,503 onMar. 15, 2016 and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/078,755, filed on Apr. 1,2011, entitled “Systems and Methods for Collecting, Analyzing, Recordingand Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring and ControlData”, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,938 on Nov. 26, 2013, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/320,210,filed on Apr. 1, 2010, entitled “Systems and Method for Collecting,Analyzing, Recording, and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon ProductionMonitoring and Control Data” (collectively, the “Prior Applications”).The entire disclosures of each of the Prior Applications listed hereinare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the presentdisclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods forcollecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collectedfrom instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for fluidhydrocarbon (principally natural gas) well production includingcollection platforms, pipeline insertion platforms, and the like.

Background Information

Where natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons are found in the earth,producers may drill multiple boreholes (wells) in the earth to capturethe hydrocarbon products. Producers often aggregate the output fromindividual wells by routing pipes from nearby individual wells to acommon location for connection to a distribution pipeline. Thecollection of valves, gauges, pumps, filters, and other equipment at thecommon location are often attached to a rectangular metal structure. Thestructure, with the attached equipment, is sometimes referred to as a“platform” or “skid.” Another aggregation of fluid hydrocarbonproduction equipment is a pipeline insertion platform. In thisapplication, the term “skid” is meant to refer to a wide variety ofequipment aggregations for fluid hydrocarbon production, conveyanceand/or storage, whenever hydrocarbon conditions are being monitored bymultiple instruments on a common structure, including a collectionplatform, a pipeline insertion platform, and the like.

Typically, producers monitor and control several differentcharacteristics of production including pipeline pressure, instantaneousflow rate, accumulated flow, etc., and control pressures and flows tomeet business and safety needs. In current practices, producers oftenuse discrete analog pressure gauges, analog flow meters, and digitalflow meters to display key information. Many of these discreteinstruments lack any wireless communication or telemetry capability.Without such telemetry, a person monitoring the instruments typicallyhas to visually inspect—i.e., “read”—each instrument's display todetermine the state of the condition the instrument is monitoring to geta “reading.” To make the data readings available for others' uses, theperson then records each instrument's reading, often by handwritingmultiple instruments' readings on a paper form. Subsequently, a dataentry person may transfer the handwritten information from the paperreport into a computer database.

Problems with Current Practices

Current practices have a number of limitations which increase the costand decrease the completeness, accuracy, and usefulness of fluidhydrocarbon production monitoring and control data gathered from theskids.

First, when the skid instrument's data is captured by a person visuallyinspecting the instrument, that person must locate, identify, and readthe instrument, and then record the reading. That can work when all goessmoothly, but problems can arise if they misread the instrument,inadvertently skip one or more instruments, or if they are unable toread the instrument because its indicator is visually obscured by rain,snow, ice, dust, or the like. Moreover, even if the person reads all theinstruments correctly, they might write down the wrong reading, make anillegible entry, misattribute the reading to a different instrument,damage the paper form, or simply fail to record the reading. When thereadings on the paper form are entered into a computer database, othererrors may arise. For example, the data value may be enteredincorrectly, misattributed, or omitted.

Second, human visual inspection, recording, and transcription lackimmediate feedback for many data collection and entry errors. The personreading the instrument may not know whether the reading is within anormal range, is indicating an undesired condition, or is indicating afailed instrument that needs to be reset, repaired, or replaced. If areader fails to read a particular instrument, the reader may not detectthe omission until after leaving the site. Similarly, when recording areading, a reader may not recognize that he has incorrectly attributed areading from instrument A to instrument B.

Third, instruments can be costly to install or replace. A hard-wiredinstrument is usually attached to the sensing or controlling point butmight require a separate display to indicate the instrument's reading,with wires or wireless links connecting the instrument to the display.The connections and discrete display can add significant costs. Forexample, a hard-wired instrument might have an average installed cost ofaround $1,000.

Fourth, training people to know about the instruments, what theymonitor, what their normal ranges are, where they are located on theskid and other factors requires a lot of time, money, and instruction.

As explained above, current data collection and recording practices notonly reduce data accuracy and completeness and increase data acquisitioncosts, they also undermine the processes for which the data is beingcollected. Production managers make production, maintenance, and safetydecisions based on reported data. Inaccurate data collection andrecording or delayed analysis and transmittal may increase costs andreduce profits. In the extreme, such problems may cause damage to theenvironment or even loss of life.

Recent Technologies and Limitations

Various modern technologies have long been available to help manage theforegoing data collection and recording problems in this field of art,but even the best of modern solutions still have their weaknesses. Asone way to help manage such problems, various skid instruments areincreasingly equipped with hard-wired or wireless data transmitters withwhich they communicate with a central control panel on the skid. Modernhandheld computing devices also include features such as short- andlong-range wireless communication systems, a digital camera, ageographical position fixing system such as a global navigationsatellite system with single meter accuracy, and storage forapplications, images, and data. Modern instrument systems also offer“bolt-on” instruments that can wirelessly communicate their readings anddo not require a separate, remote display. These self-containedinstruments may be bolted onto a pipe or manifold which they are tosense. Some bolt-on instruments contain an internal battery that enablesthe instrument to transmit its data wirelessly to a central controlpanel or other data collection device or system. These and othertechnologies can be adapted for use in gas production monitoring andcontrol systems and methods.

Desirable Improvements

There are many improvements in data collection, analysis, recording, andtransmitting systems and methods that gas producers would welcome. Forexample, as a partial list of desirable improvements, producers want to:

-   -   1. spend less time monitoring, collecting, evaluating and        entering the data,    -   2. reduce the cost of monitoring, collecting, evaluating and        recording the data,    -   3. increase the accuracy and completeness of the data,    -   4. decrease the time required to respond to out-of-tolerance        readings,    -   5. reduce wasted resources and lost profits caused by data        errors,    -   6. reduce the risk of harm to the environment and personnel, and    -   7. reduce the level of training and skill necessary in        monitoring, collecting, evaluating, interpreting, and entering        the data.        Further, it is highly desirable that any systems or methods that        accomplish these improvements support skids with both        wireless-enabled and non-wireless-enabled instruments.

The present invention includes systems and methods that reduce oreliminate many of the problems with the current practices, provide thedesired improvements, and permit future expansions and adaptations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes systems and methods for collecting,analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected frominstruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gaswell production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids).

One of the embodiments of the present invention includes an augmentedreality visualization system based on handheld or wearable augmentedreality displays and computing devices (HOWARDACD).

In one or more of the embodiments, the HOWARDACD has one or more wiredand wireless communication systems for short-range and long-rangecommunications. For purposes of this application, we define threeseparate terms of convenience pertaining to communication systems:short-range wireless communication systems, short-range wiredcommunication systems, and long-range wireless communication systems.

Short-range wireless communication systems are systems that theHOWARDACD uses to communicate with other wireless systems that aregenerally not more than 100 meters away from the HOWARDACD without usinga direct electrical connection between the HOWARDACD and the othersystem. Such short-range communication systems include commerciallyavailable technologies such as Bluetooth®, infrared, and othercommunication systems that have a typical maximum range up to 100meters.

Short-range wired communication systems are those the HOWARDACD uses tocommunicate with other systems using a direct electrical connection.Short-range wired communication systems include one or more USB portsand the devices that connect to them including USB-to-USB cables, flashdrives, floppy disks, external hard disks, and the like; hard-wireddocking connections; and one or more Ethernet ports for local areanetwork and Internet access, and the like.

Long-range wireless communication systems are systems the HOWARDACD usesto communicate with other systems that are generally more than 100meters away from the HOWARDACD without using a direct electricalconnection. Such long-range communication systems include moderncellular telephone systems, and other radio frequency (RF) communicationsystems such as High Frequency (HF) radio systems.

Further, this application uses the term “instrument” as a genericdescriptor for a category of devices that monitor or control gasproduction equipment. When used herein as a generic descriptor,instrument includes an individual device (such as a sensor, flow meter,pressure gauge, or the like), multiple discrete devices (like those justlisted), and data aggregating devices (such as one or more data stationsor control panels). A data station or control panel, as furtherdescribed below, receives data from at least one instrument. When thedata station or control panel receives data from more than oneinstrument, the station or panel may also include some aggregation andstorage of instrument data.

Another feature of one or more embodiments is a geographical positionfixing system such as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)embedded in or connected to the HOWARDACD. The GNSS feature may use theNAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) or another commerciallyavailable GNSS. This application uses the term GPS to include theNAVSTAR Global Positioning System and all other GNSSs.

Another feature of the HOWARDACD is a camera and display device. Thecamera can view the skid and display the real-life view with otherinformation superimposed—the Augmented Reality User Interface (“ARUI”).In the preferred embodiment, the person assigned to collect data from askid—the “reader”—wears augmented reality glasses that superimposes thehelpful information of the ARUI to the reader. Such information couldinclude directions and visual cues to the location of the skid andvarious instruments on the skid, control panels and readouts of variousinstruments, normal ranges, caution ranges, and danger ranges of variousinstruments. In some implementations, the HOWARDACD displays the ARUIsuperimposed over “reality” by including the UI elements onto glasses.In other versions, the reader uses a handheld device that uses a camerato show the scene with the helpful ARUI information superimposed.

The systems and methods of the present invention help reduce the costs,errors, inefficiencies, and limitations of the current practices evenfor skids without any wireless-enabled instruments. However, gasproducers can achieve greater savings and efficiencies using skids thatare partially or fully equipped with wireless-enabled instruments.Furthermore, the HOWARDACD with an ARUI allows for quicker and moreaccurate training of personnel as their data gathering and monitoring isguided by the intelligence of the ARUI.

When collecting data from a skid, the reader tasked with collecting thedata often must drive to the skid's location. In the preferredembodiment the ARUI and the HOWARDACD can help the reader drive to thearea where the skid is located by showing directions in a head's updisplay. If there is more than one skid in the area, the HOWARDACD canhelp the reader identify the specific skid or skids from which tocollect data by comparing the skid's location, stored in an applicationin the HOWARDACD, with the reader's location as determined by the GNSS.Optionally, the reader can use the HOWARDACD to view a stored photographof the skid for further confirmation of the skid's identity.

Once the reader positively identifies the proper skid, the readerselects the skid in the HOWARDACD, and the HOWARDACD displays a list ofinstruments from which the reader may gather readings. In oneembodiment, the ARUI will highlight the skid and the various instrumentswith different colors. When the ARUI receives and records data from theparticular instrument, the color changes or the instrument highlight isshaded in using the augmented reality features of the HOWARDACD toindicate that the HOWARDACD has recorded the data. In anotherembodiment, the HOWARDACD displays the instrument readings and orcontrol panel automatically to the reader when glancing or looking atthe particular instrument section of the skid.

In some embodiments, the HOWARDACD uses wireless or visual tags toidentify the specific skid and which information and instruments are onthe skid. Some examples of such wireless or visual tags include RFIDtags, QR tags, UPC Codes, specific or other visual indicators. In theseembodiments, the HOWARDACD camera recognizes the tag and connectswirelessly to then receive and display the data. In other embodiments,the HOWARDACD includes enough software intelligence to recognize theskid and the instruments by the visuals alone.

In other embodiments, as the reader approaches the identified skid, theHOWARDACD detects wireless signals from one or more remote transceiverslinked with the instruments associated with the skid. Preferably, theHOWARDACD can simultaneously detect signals from all of the remotetransceivers linked to each of the instruments associated with aparticular skid. The closer the proximity of the HOWARDACD to aparticular remote transceiver, the stronger the signal that is detected.As the reader approaches a particular instrument on the skid, thestrength of the associated remote transceiver's signal detected by theHOWARDACD increases based on the HOWARDACD's proximity to the particularremote transceiver. The HOWARDACD can indicate the strength of theproximity by tactile feedback in the HOWARDACD. For example, theHOWARDACD may generate stronger vibrations as the reader gets closer tothe instrument in question. In other words, the strongest signaldetected by the HOWARDACD corresponds to the remote transceiver closestto the HOWARDACD. Once the reader has approached the linked instrument,either automatically or with reader permission, the HOWARDACD may thenwirelessly interrogate or receive the data signal to obtain a readingfrom the particular instrument. Preferred systems may utilize the M2Wireless™ Monitoring System commercially available from FW MurphyProduction Controls, LLC of Tulsa, Okla. [www.fwmurphy.com].

Alternatively, as the reader approaches an instrument, the HOWARDACD,using the GNSS and the stored locations of each skid's instruments, andmay detect the reader's proximity to the instrument and prompt thereader to enter the instrument's reading by displaying a stored image ofthe instrument to be polled along with an interactive form. If theinstrument is wireless-enabled, the HOWARDACD can automatically, or withreader permission, wirelessly interrogate the instrument to obtain thereading. If the instrument is not wireless-enabled, the HOWARDACDprompts the user to enter the reading manually using a manual input suchas a stylus or finger on a touch-sensitive pad, a dedicated keypad, orthe like. The HOWARDACD may then compare the reading to stored ordynamically uploaded norms and alert the reader of a likely data entryerror or any abnormal condition reflected by the instrument's reading.The HOWARDACD may prompt the reader to continue to gather readings fromeach of the instruments on the skid, and alert the reader if anyinstrument's reading has not been recorded in the HOWARDACD. In oneembodiment, the HOWARDACD includes visual cues as to the status of thereading. For example, instruments that have had the data entered areshaded in whereas those that have not yet had the data entered areoutlined.

Further, the HOWARDACD can prompt the user to continue the datacollection process at nearby skids, and repeat the data collectionprocess for each skid by graphical prompts displayed on the ARUI. Byautomatically or manually entering readings, the HOWARDACD reduces thetime to enter the data, prevents illegible entries, reducesmisattributed entries, and prompts the reader to confirmout-of-tolerance entries. The ARUI accomplishes all of these functionsusing intuitive and easy-to-understand graphical indications.

When the reader wishes to transfer collected data from the HOWARDACD toa centralized data collection computer system, the reader uses one ormore of the HOWARDACD's communication systems to transmit the collecteddata. If the HOWARDACD acquires service for a cellular telephone system,the HOWARDACD can transmit the data using its cellular telephonecommunication capability. If such service is not available, the user maytransmit the data to a receiving unit on the inspection vehicle, whichmay either store or retransmit the data. The reader may also return tothe centralized data collection system location and use the HOWARDACD'sshort-range wired or wireless communication systems to transmit the datato the centralized data collection computer system. Because the centraldata collection facility receives data communicated directly, orindirectly, from the HOWARDACD to the centralized data collectioncomputer system, the process eliminates data entry by the collectionfacility, eliminates data transcription errors, and greatly reduces thetime to transfer the data.

Besides decreasing the costs and increasing the accuracy of collecting,recording, and transmitting data, the present invention also decreasesthe time to respond to out-of-tolerance readings. If a reader records aninstrument reading that is out of normal operating condition limits, theHOWARDACD can display a digital image of, or other information about,the instrument so the reader can confirm that the correct instrument isbeing read. In some embodiments the color coding is keyed to thespecific instrument and the safety limits of the instrument. Forexample, a pressure instrument that is within normal range will appearas green in the ARUI. The same instrument that is in dangerous rangeswill change color in the ARUI from green, to yellow, to orange, to red,as the dangerous range increases. In this embodiment, a reader wouldapproach a skid and, using the HOWARDACD, be able to see immediately theinstruments' readings outlined in various colors and know the overalldanger level and status of the skid at a glance.

Further, the HOWARDACD can crosscheck the HOWARDACD's position with theinstrument's stored or calculated geographical location and notify thereader of any differences. The HOWARDACD can also prompt the reader totake additional actions such as take a digital photograph of theinstrument, take some action to reset or re-interrogate the instrument,tag the instrument for maintenance personnel, or perform some othertask. The HOWARDACD can also identify the instrument in a maintenancedatabase as one needing repair. In case of a dangerous condition, theHOWARDACD may alert the reader to terminate the inspection, to evacuateall personnel from the area, and optionally alert safety, security, andcompliance personnel (e.g., fire, police, EPA) of the dangerouscondition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 represents a schematic plan view of a typical oil and gas fieldwith two examples 16, 26 of the various types of collectionplatform/skids, each one serving a group of natural gas wells 12 a-12 dand 22 a-22 d.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform/skid 16 withcollection lines and a production line, as well as a variety of flowconduits, tanks, valves, and control mechanisms in place toappropriately measure, monitor, and control the flow of natural gas.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a remotetransceiver.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a typical platform/skid control panel 180integrating some of the wide variety of instruments and controlsassociated with the operation of the skid.

FIG. 4 represents a schematic diagram of alternate embodiments of thesystems and method of the present invention utilizing radio-frequencycommunication between a handheld computing device, preferably a handheldaugmented reality computing device (HOWARDACD) 62 and electronic datasensors 42, 44, 46, 52 positioned on the platform/skid 16.

FIG. 5 represents a schematic diagram of alternate embodiments of thesystem and method of the present invention using manual data entry on ahandheld computing device, preferably a handheld augmented realitycomputing device (HOWARDACD) 94 from a visual reading of the variousdigital and analog meters and sensors 82, 84, 88, 92 positioned on theplatform/skid 26.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the process steps associated with the methodfor electronic data acquisition.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an alternate subroutine associated with themethod shown in FIG. 6 which involves the implementation of a graphicaluser interface that allows the monitoring personnel to step through thecollection of data screens associated with the various instruments.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the process steps involved in the methodologyfor visually/manually collecting data from sensors and gauges on a skid,entering the data into the handheld computing device, and subsequentlyestablishing a connection between the handheld computing device and acentral office processor to transfer the data.

FIG. 9 illustrates a touch screen display which allows implementation ofa graphical user interface.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform/skid 16 andillustrates an augmented reality glasses control display.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform/skid 16 andillustrates an augmented reality handheld device control display.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform skid 1216along with a view of the platform/skid 1216 as it would appear whenusing an augmented reality handheld device control display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made first to FIG. 1 representing a schematic plan view ofa typical oil and gas field with two examples of the various types ofcollection platform/skids, each one serving a group of natural gaswells. Each platform/skid is accessible by a vehicular road shown indashed lines in FIG. 1. A first local gas well field collection area 10includes a number of individual gas wells (well heads) 12 a-12 d. Gaswell to collection platform flow lines 14 connect the individual gaswells to gas collection platform/skid 16.

In the first gas field example provided, gas collection platform/skid 16is an electronic data collection based platform incorporating one ormore wireless data transmission devices, more preferably being remotetransceivers 36 (as shown in FIGS. 2A & 2B) which are described in moredetail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,289,184 and 8,373,576, both of which areincorporated by reference in their entirety into the present disclosure.These devices, identified generically on platform/skid 16 with RF wavesymbols emanating from various points on the platform, are mounted onand/or connected to one or more gauges, flow meters, and/or sensorslocated on platform/skid 16. Remote transceivers 36 are components of apreferred short-range wireless communication system and are capable oftransmitting the data collected by such gauges, flow meter, and/orsensors to an HOWARDACD. The HOWARDACD may be newly developed but mayalso be chosen from or adapted from those that are commerciallyavailable. Potential examples of HOWARDACD's include systems marketedunder the trademarks Google Glass, Microsoft HoloLens, Samsung Gear VR,Android phones and tablets, Apple iPhone, or Apple iPad, or may beembodied to consist of or include a personal digital assistant (PDA), ora notebook personal computer. The HOWARDACD may also include virtualreality devices like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. The HOWARDACD definedin this application refers to handheld devices as well as devices thatusers wear like eyeglasses and any other such devices sufficient toimplement the invention. Remote transceivers 36 may be configured tocontinuously transmit data, to periodically transmit data, or totransmit data upon being interrogated, depending on the requirements forthe particular characteristic being monitored. Remote transceivers 36may be wirelessly linked to a hub or gateway unit (not shown) such thatthe hub and remote transceivers 36 are capable of two-way wirelesscommunication with one another. Although in preferred embodiments remotetransceivers 36 are capable of sending and receiving wireless signals toand from the hub, remote transceivers 36 are not linked with one anothersuch they are not capable of communicating with one another.

Certain instruments may also communicate with the HOWARDACD by providingreading information, but may also dynamically upload other informationto the HOWARDACD, meaning automatically or in response to the user'sselection, send the HOWARDACD information about the instrument such asits type, features, unique identification, and the like.

Connecting gas collection platform/skid 16 to primary gas fieldproduction line 30 is collection platform production line 18. This setof pipelines connects a number of discrete gas well field collectionareas together at a point where it is no longer necessary to separatelymonitor individual field or individual well production.

A second local gas field collection area 20 is likewise shown in FIG. 1encompassing individual gas wells (well heads) 22 a-22 d. Gas well tocollection platform flow lines 24 conduct the natural gas from each ofthe individual gas wells 22 a-22 d through to gas collectionplatform/skid 26. In this example, gas collection platform/skid 26 maybe primarily a visual data collection-based skid as opposed to awireless transmission data collection system. As with the first gas wellfield collection area, the collected natural gas from platform/skid 26is conducted to primary gas field collection line 30 by way ofcollection platform production line 28.

In the second gas field example provided in FIG. 1 the platform/skid 26is predominantly characterized as requiring visual inspection for recordkeeping and monitoring. Much like a home gas or electric meter, thevisual data collection-based skid utilizes gauges, meters, and sensorsthat provide only visual indications of the characteristics they aremeasuring. As a result, the basic manner of collecting the data involves“reading the meter” and recording (preferably into an electronichandheld device) the numerical information read. In FIG. 1 therefore,platform/skid 26 is shown to include a variety of discrete analogpressure gauges, digital flow meters (for cumulative flow), and analogflow meters (for instantaneous flow). The details of such devices andthe manner in which the system of the present invention can accommodatethem are further described below. In practice, implementation of thepresent invention will likely occur in fields where the data collectionis being carried out in mixed modes, utilizing some wireless datacollection devices and some visual inspection data collection devices.The system of the present invention is versatile and adaptable to theextent that its use is not dependent upon the implementation of only asingle mode of data collection.

As indicated above, the collection of data from each of the individualskids can be carried out according to a number of different methods andby way of a variety of protocols. A first method may simply include thevisual inspection of a number of metering and monitoring devicessituated on the platform. This data may be entered into the HOWARDACDfrom which it is wirelessly, or through a hard-wired docking connection,communicated through data acquisition software eventually to acentralized data collection system, being relayed through a link in theinspection vehicle or wirelessly through a variety of different regionalsignal communication lines. FIG. 1 presents in general, therefore, thefield of use of the present invention and the manner in which thesystems and methods of the invention are implemented in conjunction witha variety of gas well field collection platforms and/or pipelineinsertion platforms areas.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform/skid withcollection lines and a production line, as well as a variety of flowconduits, tanks, valves, and control mechanisms in place toappropriately measure, monitor, and control the flow of natural gas.Those skilled in the art will recognize that the skid structure shown inFIG. 2A is provided by way of example only, and that a variety ofdifferent skid structures with many different types of gauges, sensors,meters, and detectors, are anticipated as being appropriate for use inconjunction with the systems and methods of the present invention. InFIG. 2A, gas well to collection platform flow lines 14 arrive at the gascollection platform/skid 16 as described above in conjunction withFIG. 1. Typically, these collection flow lines are situated near onesection of the platform, regardless of the direction from which thevarious flow lines arrive from the dispersed wells. Collection platformproduction line 18 exits the platform as shown after a number ofdifferent metering, monitoring and conditioning efforts are made withthe natural gas production.

Platform/skid base 40 in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention may be a flatbed trailer or a skid module, as is typicallyutilized in conjunction with the establishment of a central collectionpoint for a natural gas field or for a pipeline insertion point. Avariety of different pumps, tanks, reservoirs, separators, dryers, andmetering components are incorporated into the flow lines associated withthe collection and distribution of the natural gas as it flows from thewells to the primary gas field production line and beyond into naturalgas transfer and distribution systems. As shown in FIG. 2A, a number ofdifferent monitoring components are positioned on platform/skid base 40in conjunction with the various functions that are carried out on theskid. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the data collections devices onthe skid are associated with remote transceivers 36 which arecharacterized as universally wireless, as would be in a preferredembodiment of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize hownon-wireless devices might be substituted or mixed in with the wirelesstransmission devices shown. Also as mentioned above, the wireless datatransmission devices may generally fall into one of three categories oftransmissions: (a) continuous transmission; (b) periodic transmission;or (c) interrogated transmission. The system of the present inventionaccommodates all of these variations.

Initially, some identification of the skid may be provided with skididentification (ID) transmitter 42. This allows the monitoringindividual to identify the location where data is about to be collectedand recorded, preferably by way of a wireless communication from theskid ID transmitter 42 to the HOWARDACD by the monitoring individual.Alternately, in a preferred embodiment, the identification of the skidmay be carried out by a simple GPS reading taken in proximity to theskid. Such an “automatic” identification would, of course, depend upon adatabase record associating a particular skid with a geographic locationidentifiable by GPS coordinates. Such an automatic identification of thedata collection location would allow for the elimination of a uniqueskid ID transmission and could therefore greatly simplify the electronicinstrumentation transmitting the data. Each platform/skid could beidentical (anonymous) with only the geographic location providing thenecessary skid identification.

In preferred embodiments, once a particular skid is identified, theHOWARDACD monitors the available wireless transmissions from everyinstrument on the skid. Such wireless transmissions may be in the formof radio frequency (RF) signals, most preferable as Bluetooth® signals.The HOWARDACD is programmed to detect and identify the instrumentslocated on the skid by their respective wireless transmissions, whichare transmitted by the various remote transceivers 36 which interfacewith the instruments. Preferably, each remote transceiver 36 located ona particular skid is simultaneously detected by the HOWARDACD once theHOWARDACD is within the detection range of the wireless radio frequencysignals. Remote transceivers 36 associated with the skid, as well as theHOWARDACD, are preferably Bluetooth®-enabled devices which allows forthe identification of the instruments and the exchange of data from theinstruments to the HOWARDACD in a short-range communication network.

In some embodiments, for the instruments to be identified and/or tocommunicate associated data to the HOWARDACD, each of the instrumentsmay be connected with a remote transceiver 36 capable of transmitting awireless radio frequency signal, preferably a Bluetooth® signal. In suchembodiments, radio frequency signal strength is directly related toproximity in that the closer the HOWARDACD is to a particular remotetransceiver 36, the stronger the wireless radio frequency signaltransmitted from the particular remote transceiver 36 that is detectedby the HOWARDACD. Preferred embodiments of the disclosed system allowfor the simultaneous detection of all remote transceivers 36, andconsequently each of the instruments, associated with a particular skidby the HOWARDACD.

In an alternate embodiment, the skid's GPS coordinates, the skid'scompass direction orientation, and a predetermined skid configurationare combined so that the HOWARDACD can calculate the geographicallocation of each skid's instruments and communicate with themaccordingly. For example, a skid manufacturer may make multiple skidswith a single configuration such as that shown in FIG. 2A. Each of theinstruments on the skid is located at a fixed distance and relativeangle from the skid transmitter. With the skid transmitter's GPScoordinates, the skid's directional orientation, and the relative angleand distance of each instrument from the skid transmitter, the HOWARDACDcan calculate the GPS coordinates of each instrument and display theappropriate monitoring data or data input screen for the nearestinstrument.

In some embodiments, when a user approaches the skid, the HOWARDACD isable to detect one or more remote transceivers by receiving a wirelessradio frequency signal from the remote transceiver(s) 36. It isanticipated that once the HOWARDACD is within sufficient range toreceive RF signals from remote transceivers 36, the HOWARDACD will becapable of simultaneously detecting all of the remote transceiverspositioned on the particular skid. A user will then be able toselectively interrogate or receive data from a particular datacollection device on the skid based on proximity and signal strength.The nearer the HOWARDACD is to a particular remote transceiver, thestronger the signal that is received by the HOWARDACD from the remotetransceiver. For instance, if the user is standing at position D (54 d),the HOWARDACD can display information pertaining to 44 d since thisinstrument, in accordance with its connection with remote transceiver36, is the closest to position D, and hence is transmitting thestrongest RF signal received by the HOWARDACD at that particularlocation. Alternatively, at the same location (position D), theHOWARDACD may allow the user to select information pertaining to any ofinstruments 44 a-44 d.

Associated with gas well to collection platform flow lines 14 may be oneor more gas well flow line flow meter gauges 44 a-44 d. These flowmeters would, of course, individually monitor the flow of natural gasfrom each of the individual wells from within the field collection areathat arrive at the platform. Positioned along one edge of theplatform/skid base 40 is skid control panel 41 which includes controlsystems and operational data record/transmission systems associated withthe operation of the skid. Typically, this control panel is positionedat a working level on the perimeter of the skid in order to allow easyaccess by monitoring personnel. An example of the array ofinstrumentation and controls that might typically be found on such acontrol panel is described in more detail below with FIG. 2. Otherinstrumentation positioned on platform/skid base 40 may include devicessuch as liquid separator operational data record/transmitter 48 as wellas platform production line flow meter gauge data transmitter 50.Additionally positioned at various locations on the platform/skid base40 may be one or more leak detection data record/transmitters 52.Further included would preferably be an array of flow meters, pressuregauges, and temperature sensors, appropriately positioned on the skidand all capable of communicating their collected data to a receivingdevice in a manner described in more detail below with FIGS. 4 & 5.

The various monitoring, metering, and safety sensors positioned onplatform/skid base 40 are intended to provide all the necessary data andinformation to safely maintain the skid as a collection point fornatural gas flowing from a plurality of individual wells. The system isintended to not only monitor flow rates for the purposes of inventorymanagement, but also to monitor conditions on the skid, both for theefficient operation of the skid and the safety of the skid and thosemonitoring it. Also shown in FIG. 2A, and anticipating the operation ofthe system of the present invention, are a number of data collectionstations shown with multi-point star tags lettered A-G. These datacollection stations 54 a-54 g provide standardized, semi-isolatedlocations around the skid where interrogation of the various wirelessremote transceivers 36 may occur. As with the skid as a whole, remotetransceivers 36 may include an ID within their data signal thatassociates the data with a particular device in a particular location onthe skid. The HOWARDACD for collecting data from the various wirelesstransmitting devices is capable of detecting the wireless signalstransmitted by remote transceivers 36 on the skid, such capabilitypreferably including the simultaneous detection of all wireless signalsbeing transmitted remote transceivers 36 located on a particular skid.For the collection of data, the closer in proximity the HOWARDACD is toa particular remote transceiver 36 on the skid, the stronger the signalwhich is detected. Alternately, the data collection stations 54 a-54 gmay be geographically separated by a sufficient distance to use thestation's GPS coordinates to uniquely identify the station. For example,the only flow meter signal capable of being read at data collectionstation 54 g would be flow meter 50 associated with the outflow of gasfrom the platform. The meter 50 may therefore transmit an anonymoussignal that is associated or identified with a specific skid and aspecific location on that skid by way of its GPS coordinates. Hereagain, it is anticipated that the real world will include a mix ofdevices, some that will require visual inspection, some that willtransmit an identifying signal along with their data either by way of aconnected remote transceiver or an integrated transmitter, and some thatwill anonymously transmit their data and rely on a GPS coordinate toidentify their location.

Turning now to FIG. 2B, there is shown a schematic diagram of a typicalremote transceiver 36 attached to an instrument associated with a skid.Remote transceiver 36 may be constructed based on a printed circuitboard 200. In some embodiments, the structure as illustrated iscontained within an enclosure 208. In other embodiments, remotetransceiver 36 may be entirely contained within an instrument or sensorwith which remote transceiver 36 is associated.

A power supply 206 may also be provided to allow for untethered remoteoperation. In one embodiment, power supply 206 is a replaceable battery.However, rechargeable batteries or other power supplies could also beused in the present embodiment. A microcontroller 204 implements andcontrols the functions and operations of remote transceiver 36 describedherein. Microcontroller 204 can be a general purpose microprocessorprogrammed according to the needed functionality, but could also be anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), or other computational device.

Also as illustrated in FIG. 2B, remote transceiver 36 provides aninternal antenna 202 that is situated directly on printed circuit board200. This allows remote transceiver 36 to be completely enclosed withinenclosure 208 for increased durability and/or resistance to theelements. However, in some embodiments, and as is shown in FIG. 2B,remote transceiver 36 is equipped with external antenna 210 (shown indotted line) in order to increase the reception or broadcast range ofremote transceiver 36. In preferred embodiments, remote transceiver 36interfaces with one instrument associated with the skid. It isunderstood that, in some cases, remote transceiver 36 may interface withtwo or more such instruments.

With regard to remote transceiver 36, it is also understood that otherelectronic devices may be included with the instruments, placed in theenclosure, or attached to printed circuit board 200. These devices mayprovide functionality for carrying out such duties as recharging battery206, signal conditioning and/or amplification for the inputs from theinstruments, and other functions not carried out by microcontroller 204.

FIG. 3 provides a side plan view of a typical platform/skid controlpanel 180 integrating some of the wide variety of instruments andcontrols associated with the operation of the skid. The representationshown in FIG. 3 is intended to include examples of the variousinstruments and controls rather than to provide a view of any specificcontrol panel structure. Control panel 180 in practical situations wouldlikely have fewer than all of the instruments and controls that areexhibited in this view. Many of the components shown may comprisediscrete components located only in conjunction with the locations theyare intended to monitor. In some instances, however, these components(e.g., meters, gauges, sensors, valve controls, lights, alarms, etc.)are consolidated into the skid control panel such that a monitoringperson may monitor and control all the instruments on the entire skidfrom the single location of the control panel.

Control panel 180 as shown in FIG. 3 includes an array of gas well flowline pressure gauges 182 as well as gas well flow line flow meters 184.Flow meters 184 may include both cumulative flow and instantaneous flowindicators. Also provided on control panel 180 may be control mechanismssuch as gas well flow line valve controls 186. These controls located onpanel 180 may, of course, be mechanical, electromechanical, orelectronic in their operation. A similar set of instruments and controlsmay be provided for the output system on the skid with outflow gaugesand controls 196. Other components present on control panel 180 mayinclude additional digital flow meters 190 and additional analog (ordigital) pressure gauges 194. Various re-settable alarms 198 may providevisual and/or audible indications of dangerous or anomalous conditionson the skid.

As the systems and methods of the present invention anticipate a varietyof different skid structures it is possible that some of the dataprocessing capabilities may be moved to components on the skid and inparticular to a so-called “smart” control panel 180. As described inmore detail below, data collection on the skid may be partiallyaccomplished prior to the actual visit by monitoring personnel. It isanticipated that some level of data collection may occur from thevarious instruments on the skid into a data storage component associatedwith control panel 180. Access to such may be provided to the monitoringpersonnel through both the wireless connection that may be establishedthrough proximity to the skid and through manual input and audiovisualdisplay systems 192 present on the control panel. Once again, it is notanticipated that all of the various components and capabilities shownand described in FIG. 3 will necessarily be present on each skid controlpanel and as such the view is intended to be merely representative ofthe variety of different panels that might be encountered.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 & 5 which represent schematic diagramsof alternate embodiments of the system and method of the presentinvention, one (FIG. 4) utilizing radio-frequency communication betweena handheld computing device (HOWARDACD) and the electronic data sensorspositioned on the platform/skid, and a second (FIG. 5) representingmanual data entry on a handheld computing device (HOWARDACD) from avisual reading of the various digital and analog meters and sensorspositioned on the platform/skid.

FIG. 4 represents a preferred embodiment wherein most, if not all, ofthe data communication is carried out wirelessly. Gas collectionplatform/skid 16 is represented schematically in FIG. 4 primarily as acollection of individual data transmitters carrying out the functionsdescribed above. Skid ID transmitter 42, for example, may be positionedin such a manner as to broadcast a digital signature associated withthat particular skid (although as mentioned above, this device may beomitted if the system provides for identification by GPS coordinates).Gas well flow lines flow meter gauges 44 likewise may wirelesslytransmit data indicating the metered flow rates (e.g., cumulative flowvolume, instantaneous flow, etc.) from the various flow meter gaugespositioned on the skid. Control system operational datarecord/transmitter 46 may provide the data associated with the skidcontrol panel positioned on each skid as described above. Leak detectiondata record/transmitter 52 in a similar fashion may provide monitoringdata associated with the presence or absence of leaks in the natural gasflow lines. The leak detection device has a battery to power itswireless transmitter, where the battery life is typically ten years.These devices shown in FIG. 4 are intended to be representative of alarge array of such data instrumentation position on the skid, all ofwhich may be in data communication with an appropriately configured datacollection receiver.

Ancillary to the devices on the gas collection platform/skid 16 isanother transmitting device that contributes to the collection of datafrom the particular skid. GPS satellite system 60 is shown as aschematic representation of the typical array of multiple globalpositioning satellites that contribute their signals to pinpoint thelocation of the data being collected in a handheld device (for example)as the monitoring personnel might carry the device to each individualskid. In fact, as mentioned above, the accuracy of such systems nowmakes it possible to discern positions around each individual skid tomonitor specific locations on the skid.

All of the above data transmitters are configured to transmit data toone or more similarly configured handheld computing devices (HOWARDACD)62, which in the preferred embodiment may be a personal data assistant(PDA) configured with Bluetooth® RF communication components and/orcellular communication transceivers. As data is collected from the skidby way of the reception of the signals from each of the above referencedmonitors, transmitters, gauges, etc., preferably based on proximity ofHOWARDACD 62 to remote transceivers 36 associated with such monitors,transmitters, gauges, etc., the information may then be relayed by anumber of different methods (through various channels) to a centralcollection location where the data is accumulated, reported, and used.In FIG. 4 three paths to downloading this data are represented. A firstpath using HOWARDACD 62's long-range communication system communicatesthe data that has been collected on HOWARDACD 62 by way of cellularcommunications tower 64 as part of a regional cellular communicationsnetwork 66. According to this communications path, various Internetservice provider (ISP) servers 68, which are connected to the cellularcommunications network 66, relay the data to an ISP service line 70which is in turn connected to an individual IP address location in theform of a central office data processor 72. The typical central officeprocessor display 74 and central office processor user input device(keyboard) 76 are utilized in conjunction with the final software drivenfunctions associated with the collection of data and the generation ofnecessary reports, alerts, etc., all utilized in conjunction with themonitoring and inventory of the natural gas well field.

An alternate data communications route for downloading the collecteddata shown in FIG. 4 involves short-range wired or short-range wirelesscommunication between HOWARDACD 62 and a vehicle-based data collectionreceiver 63. In some instances, the individual natural gas fields wheredata is being collected and monitored are outside the range of regionalcellular telephone communications networks and it becomes necessary totransmit the data locally to an electronic data collection device,preferably affixed to or carried in the vehicle that is being used tocarry the monitor and control personnel to each location. Implementationof the methods of the present invention would involve a userinterrogating the skid and its various sensors and data collectiondevice transmitters and then returning to the vehicle where theHOWARDACD 62 may be docked (physically or by RF signal handshake) to acommunications cradle (or a transceiver such as a Bluetooth® device)that automatically downloads the data just collected from the skid beingvisited. In a preferred embodiment of the systems and methods of thepresent invention, data communication is carried out primarily throughproximity-induced RF connections that are established or broken bymoving in and out of a specified range. In this manner, the systemoperates most transparently to the user, automatically collecting dataand then automatically downloading data via the communications relaychain to the central data collection system.

A third data communications path disclosed in FIG. 4 utilizes skid-basedlocal/regional transmitter 65. The placement of a more powerful regionaltransmitter device directly on the skid allows for the possibility ofdirect communication between the skid (and its various electronicinstruments) with either a regional cellular network or some otherestablished RF communications network. Such a system might be used inconjunction with HOWARDACD 62 or separate from it. Skid basedtransmitter 65 may simply be a transceiver capable of “boosting” arelayed data signal from HOWARDACD 62 to a regional transceiverconnected to the Internet or some other wide area network. Alternately,the data collection software that might normally be resident onHOWARDACD 62 could be incorporated into a processor on the skid 16 andcarry out the data collection function of HOWARDACD 62 directly. Thisembodiment would, of course, be limited to those geographic areas wheresuch regional communications are readily available.

A further alternate embodiment of the present invention may beanticipated from the use of the skid based local/regional transmitter65. With the appropriate skid based data processor (not shown) data fromeach of the various wireless devices (e.g., meters, gauges, sensors,etc.) on the skid may be locally received at a central point on the skid(i.e., at the skid based local/regional transmitter 65) and stored untilsuch time as monitoring personnel arrive at the skid to collect thedata. In this embodiment, rather than moving about the skid to collectdata from each device, HOWARDACD 62 may interrogate the skid as a wholethrough transmitter 65 and collect the entire batch of skid data at onetime. Indexing of the data would, in this embodiment, require theinclusion of transmitter device ID information as part of each of thedata signals. Nonetheless, GPS location information would allowHOWARDACD 62 to still identify the skid as a whole without the need forentrained skid ID signal data.

Reference is next made to FIG. 5 for a further alternate embodiment ofthe present invention that relies less upon the use of fully electronicsensors, gauges, and metering devices positioned on the skid, andinstead utilizes many of the standard analog or digital monitoringmeters and gauges often associated with older natural gas collectionplatforms/skids. In FIG. 5 gas collection platform/skid (visual datacollection) 26 is fitted not with electronic data transmitters, but withstandard analog or digital display devices. In this example, it may benecessary to utilize skid ID plate 82 that simply provides alphanumericinformation regarding the identity of the skid which is keyed intoHOWARDACD 94 by the monitoring personnel. In a preferred embodiment,however, HOWARDACD 94 could still benefit from the use of GPS satellitesystem 60. As previously discussed, with the skid GPS coordinates, skidorientation, and skid configuration, HOWARDACD 94 can pinpoint not onlya specific platform/skid 26 that is being interrogated, but may alsoallow for the identification of the specific meter, gauge, or sensorthat is being viewed at a particular point in time. It is alsounderstood that the real world will likely include a mix of electronic(wireless) devices and older visually inspected meters and gauges. In apreferred embodiment therefore, HOWARDACD 94 includes components thatallow it to receive data signals wirelessly from the instruments on theskid or to have such data input into HOWARDACD 94 by way of its manualinput means. In this regard, the primary distinction between theembodiments described by FIG. 4 and those shown here with FIG. 5 relatesto the manner in which the data is downloaded (or relayed) from thehandheld device (62 or 94) to the central office data processor. In thesystem shown in FIG. 5 this communication process is carried outentirely without the use of a regional cellular network.

Visually collected information from the skid is, as indicated above,input into handheld device 94 from skid ID plate 82 (unless GPS isutilized) while a variety of other types of data are collected visuallyand entered manually from digital meters 84 (e.g., gas well flow linesflow meter gauges, etc.) and digital meters 88 (e.g., liquid separatorflow meter gauges, etc.). There may additionally be analog gauges 92(e.g., source line pressures, production line pressure, etc.) as well asother types of digital or analog leak detection sensors, temperaturegauges, and process condition sensors. In any case, the information maybe manually entered into HOWARDACD 94 by the monitoring personnel asthey progress about the skid, which data entry may be, in one or moreembodiments, by using a manual key input device with an LCD display asshown.

Connectable to HOWARDACD 94 is short-range wired communication system 96which allows the monitoring personnel, upon return to a home base, todock or otherwise connect HOWARDACD 94 to the central office dataprocessor 72. In this manner, the data collected at each of theindividual skids may be rapidly and accurately downloaded into thesoftware applications structured for recording, reporting, anddisplaying information on all of the parameters described above. Thestandard computer processing equipment (including data display 74 anddata input keyboard 76) operable in conjunction with the central officedata processor 72 are utilized to carry out the software functionalityassociated with this recording, reporting, and displaying the gatheredinformation.

Alternately, the system shown in FIG. 5 may operate in a manner similarto that described above with respect to FIG. 4. Instead of carryingHOWARDACD 94 back to the home office for downloading, the device may beconnected to a docking station positioned in the vehicle 63 that themonitoring personnel utilize to visit each of the individual natural gascollection fields. Here again, the docking connection to the car mountedelectronic data collection equipment may be by HOWARDACD 94′sshort-range wired communication system (e.g., hard wired as in the formof a cradle or cable connector) 97 positioned within the vehicle or mayinclude a short-range wireless communication system 67 prompted by adigital handshake once HOWARDACD 94 is moved within range of theequipment associated with the vehicle.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 6-8 for detailed descriptions of thevarious process steps associated with the transmission, reception,collection, and consolidation of the data from each of the individualgas well field collection areas. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processsteps associated with the method for electronic data acquisition,including the short-range wired or wireless communication between datacollection stations on the platform and the HOWARDACD, and thelong-range communication between the HOWARDACD and the central officeprocessor. These processes are initiated at Step 100, wherein daily (orsome other periodicity) data collection rounds are begun. The monitoringpersonnel arrive at the skid at Step 102, wherein the presence of theHOWARDACD may be automatically detected by the instrumentation on theskid and/or the HOWARDACD may automatically detect the proximity of theskid. Step 104 involves the automatic registration of the skid ID(preferably by digital transmission) and/or the tagging identificationof the location with a GPS coordinate reading. Auto registration maysimply occur by recognizing a GPS reading and referencing a storeddatabase wherein a particular skid is identified at a particulargeographic location. Any of these mechanisms for “awakening” theHOWARDACD and alerting it to the skid to be interrogated may beimplemented with the systems and methods of the present invention. Apreferred embodiment includes an automatic electronic handshake betweenone or more wireless devices on the skid which prompts a GPS reading touniquely identify the skid.

Step 106 involves the user proceeding to each of a plurality of skiddata stations with the HOWARDACD. Step 108 involves the automaticidentification of the station location on the skid, again based onwireless signal strength and according to proximity of the HOWARDACD tothe station location, or alternatively corresponding with the GPScoordinate data associated with the position of the user holding theHOWARDACD in relation to the skid position, orientation, andconfiguration. Step 110 involves implementation of a handshake betweenthe HOWARDACD and a data station that is being interrogated and Step 112involves the actual communication of data between the data station andthe HOWARDACD. Communication of this data is preferably through ashort-range wireless communication system which utilizes radio frequencysignals transmitted from the data station and received by the HOWARDACD.

An alternate subroutine associated with the method shown in FIG. 6 fromSteps 106-112 is disclosed in FIG. 7 and involves implementation of agraphical user interface (see display screen in FIG. 9) that allows themonitoring personnel to step through the collection of data screensassociated with the various instruments (e.g., gauges, meters, sensors,and other data generating devices) based upon the known configuration ofa particular skid. Referencing this subroutine shown in FIG. 7, a firstquery is made to determine if station verification is required at queryStep 108 a. If not, the subroutine returns (Step 108 b) to the automaticprocessing in FIG. 6. In this case, the data would be automaticallyallotted to the proper database location by way of the auto-selectionidentification. If station verification is required, then at Step 108 cthe HOWARDACD displays thumbnail images of data pages for variousstations. The user then determines, at query Step 110 a, whether manualselection of a particular station/data page is required. The HOWARDACDmay preferably display thumbnail images of multiple stations/data pageson the skid and allow the user to manually select any of the individualstations in (or out of) sequence. A touch screen display (as shown inFIG. 9 for example) allows the user to simply select a particularstation and have that data window enlarged to a point where data mighteasily be collected from that station. If manual selection of thestation/data page is not required, the process skips to Step 110 cwherein the appropriate data page is maximized for use. If manualselection is required, at Step 110 b the user identifies and selects thestation type or location to identify the appropriate data page to beused. Again, the user may sequentially step through each of thestations/data pages positioned on a skid and thereby ensure thecollection of all relevant data from any particular location.

Subsequent to the above referenced selection routines (operable in thealternative) the station data may be communicated between the HOWARDACDand the data station at Step 112. Query Step 114 determines whether thelast data station on the skid has been interrogated. If not, the processreturns to Step 106 where each subsequent station is interrogated. Ifthe last station on the skid has been interrogated, the process proceedsto Step 116 and the system closes the skid data collection. The processthen proceeds, through one of the preferred methods described above, toallow the HOWARDACD to transmit the data package it has collected to thecentral office at Step 118. The system automatically queries whether ornot the user has left the field through an auto detection process atStep 120. If not, then the overall process repeats itself for the nextfield location by returning to Step 102 where the user arrives at askid. If the user chooses to leave the skid(s), the data collectionprocess terminates at data collection termination Step 122.

Reference is next made to FIG. 8 which is a flowchart of the processsteps involved in the methodology for visually/manually collecting datafrom sensors and gauges on a skid, entering the data into the HOWARDACD,and subsequently establishing a connection between the HOWARDACD and acentral office processor to transfer the data. Once again, FIG. 8represents a method of the present invention that is used where thevariety of wireless sensors, gauges, meters, and controls are notavailable to the monitoring personnel on a particular skid. According tothis method, the data collection rounds are initiated at Step 130 asbefore, where a gas production monitor and control equipment userarrives at a skid at Step 132. As the auto-detection of the location ofa monitoring effort is coordinated with an external GPS system (notassociated with the electronics or lack thereof on the skid) it ispossible to utilize the skid's auto-identification methods of thepresent invention. Therefore, at Step 134 an identification of the skidID number may be either input into the HOWARDACD manually and/orassociated with the location based upon the GPS reading. Establisheddatabases would link a geographical location to a particular skid. As analternative or an additional step, the user may enter the skid ID numberinto the HOWARDACD at Step 134.

The user, holding the HOWARDACD, proceeds at Step 136 to each of theplurality of skid data stations, visually observes the readings, andmanually enters the data. The user at Step 138 identifies the specificmeter/sensor location on the skid and preferably associates it with theGPS data on the HOWARDACD. The user then manually inputs data at Step140 from the instrument into the HOWARDACD. It will be apparent that asubroutine process similar to that carried out with the method stepsshown in FIG. 7, as an alternate process to an auto-identificationprocess shown in FIG. 6, is also applicable to the manual data entryprocess shown in FIG. 8. In other words, the same application softwarethat allows the user to manually step through various data screensreflecting various types of data stations can be used regardless ofwhether the data is collected manually, by visual inspection and manualdata entry, or automatically, by wireless communication between theHOWARDACD and the instruments. In either case, data is input from anidentified station at Step 140 as described above.

At query Step 142 a determination is made as to whether the last of thedata stations on the skid has been interrogated. If not, the processreturns to Step 136 and the collection of data continues. If the lastdata station on the skid has been interrogated, then at Step 144 theuser closes the data collection and moves on to the next skid in thearea. If the last skid has not been reached, based upon theauto-detection being made at query Step 146, the process again returnsto Step 132 where a new skid is interrogated. Once the last skid in anarea has been interrogated as determined at query Step 146, the processproceeds to Step 148 where the monitoring personnel return the HOWARDACDto the central office and connect it to the central processor. In one ormore alternative embodiments, the user may (as described above) returnthe HOWARDACD to a location within range of the inspection vehicle'sshort-range communication system. In either case, Step 150 involvesdownloading the collected data from the HOWARDACD to either the centralprocessor at the home office or to the data receiving (or data receivingand retransmitting) system of the user's vehicle. The manual datacollection process then concludes at Step 152 wherein the datacollection rounds are terminated.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, which provides a screen shot of a typicalgraphical user interface (GUI) associated with HOWARDACD 62 and used bygas production monitor and control equipment personnel implementing thesystems and methods of the present invention. HOWARDACD 62 provides (byway of application software) a screen display 160 that includes one ormore thumbnail images 166, 168, & 170 in the form of touch screenbuttons that step the user through each of the known or identifiedstations on a particular skid. The display presents the user with anenlarged window view 162 of the data collection form for a particularstation that the HOWARDACD is near or for an instrument or station whichthe user has selected. This image is maximized to allow the user toinput data or to automatically collect it from the station as describedabove.

In one or more embodiments, the next thumbnail data page in line may beselected by the user by touching the touch screen on the appropriatethumbnail 166, 168, or 170 to enlarge to the data collection screen andallow the user to maximize the screen and input data therein. Additionalindividual stations may be selected by arrow buttons 172 which scrollthe user through the various station pages or station type pages.Additional functions on the specific screen display shown may displayall stations on the skid and allow the user to manually select thevarious stations or allow the user to have the HOWARDACD identify thenearest data station based upon the user's proximity to the station.Standard menus 174 may be provided for entering data and collecting theinformation either manually, using the manual input means, orautomatically, via wireless communications between the HOWARDACD and theinstruments. The user may be alerted to the transmission/reception ofdata through an icon 164 positioned on the display 160. A similar GUImay be implemented on the specialized HOWARDACD shown and described withthe system in FIG. 5. Additional components to the data collectionsoftware system to implement the various functions and steps of themethods of the present invention should be apparent to those skilled inthe art of data collection, database storage, and data communication.

Reference is made to FIG. 10, which provides the top plan view of atypical gas field platform from FIG. 2a , along with the depiction ofthe reader of a typical ARUI associated with HOWARDACD 62 and used bygas production monitor and control equipment personnel implementing thesystems and methods of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the readerwears augmented reality glasses, which functions as the HOWARDACD 62,and superimposes a virtual version of display 160 into the field of viewof the reader as the reader approaches various positions pertaining tothe various instruments on the skid. For instance, if the user isstanding at position D (54 d), the HOWARDACD 62 will display informationpertaining to 44 d since this instrument, in accordance with itsconnection with remote transceiver 36, is the closest to position D.Alternatively, at the same location (position D), the HOWARDACD mayallow the user to select information pertaining to any of instruments 44a-44 d within view of the HOWARDACD 62. The virtual version of display160 includes controls that can be activated by the HOWARDACD 62 usingthe controls described for FIG. 9, but in this case detected by thevirtualization and augmented reality control schemes of the HOWARDACD62. In some embodiments the HOWARDACD 62 will highlight the e variousinstruments with different colors. When the ARUI receives and recordsdata from the particular instrument, the color changes or the instrumenthighlight is shaded in to indicate that the HOWARDACD 62 has recordedthe data. In another embodiment, the HOWARDACD displays the instrumentreadings and or control panel automatically to the reader when glancingor looking at the particular instrument section of the skid.

Reference is made to FIG. 11, which provides the top plan view of atypical gas field platform from FIG. 2a , along with the depiction ofthe reader of a typical ARUI associated with HOWARDACD 62 and used bygas production monitor and control equipment personnel implementing thesystems and methods of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the readeruses a handheld device which functions as the HOWARDACD 62, andsuperimposes a virtual version of display 160 into the display of theHOWARDACD 62 reader approaches various positions pertaining to thevarious instruments on the skid by using the camera of the HOWARDACD 62.For instance, if the user is standing at position D (54 d), theHOWARDACD 62 will display information pertaining to 44 d since thisinstrument, in accordance with its connection with remote transceiver36, is the closest to position D. Alternatively, at the same location(position D), the HOWARDACD may allow the user to select informationpertaining to any of instruments 44 a-44 d within view of the HOWARDACD62 as the reader directs the HOWARDACD 62. The virtual version ofdisplay 160 includes controls that can be activated by the HOWARDACD 62using the controls described for FIG. 9, but in this case detected bythe virtualization and augmented reality control schemes of theHOWARDACD 62. In some embodiments the HOWARDACD 62 will highlight thevarious instruments with different colors. When the ARUI receives andrecords data from the particular instrument, the color changes or theinstrument highlight is shaded in to indicate that the HOWARDACD 62 hasrecorded the data. In another embodiment, the HOWARDACD 62 displays theinstrument readings and or control panel automatically to the readerwhen glancing or looking at the particular instrument section of theskid.

Turning now to FIG. 12, there is shown a plan view of another example ofa gas field platform/skid 1216 at the top, and below that is a view ofthe same skid 116; however, the bottom representation is the view asseen on a display of the HOWARDACD 62. Particularly, there is shown onenon-limiting example of the display 1260 characteristics produced by theARUI that indicate the readings on each of the instruments 1244 a-1244 elocated at various positions on the skid 1216.

As illustrated, skid 1216 includes a control panel 1241 shown as havingtwo instruments 1244 a, 1244 b for recording conditions such as pressureand temperature. It should be understood that this is one non-limitingexample of a control panel 1241, which may incorporate fewer or moreinstruments. Also shown on skid 1216 are two gas compressors 1230 a,1230 b, wherein each compressor 1230 a, 1230 b has a plurality of valves1231 positioned within a plurality of valve covers 1233 positioned oncompressors 1230. Although not particularly shown in FIG. 12, it shouldbe understood that within each of the valve covers 1233, there islocated a valve 1231. Associated with each valve 1231 is one or moresensors 1232 for measuring temperature and/or pressure conditions at thevalve 1230. Particularly, the sensor(s) 1232 at each valve 1231 maymeasure and monitor suction and discharge pressures as well as suctionand discharge temperatures, all in real time.

Furthermore, associated with compressors 1230 a, 1230 b are two pressurevessels, particularly pulsation bottles 1218, 1219. Pulsation bottle1218 is shown to incorporate one associated instrument 1244 c, in thiscase a pressure gauge. Pulsation bottle 1219 is shown as having twopressure gauges 1244 d and 1244 e. Each of these pressure gauges 1244c-1244 e provide real-time pressure readings to HOWARDACD 62.

When an instrument reads a value that is within an acceptable and safeoperating range, the display 1260 shows the instrument readingcolor-coded in green above or below that particular instrument, suchthat one vertex of a triangle points to the particular instrument. Asthe reading on a particular instrument approaches a value outside of theacceptable range for the particular instrument, the color shown in thedisplay 1260 will change. When the reading is just outside an acceptableand safe range, the reading indicator may be yellow. Any reading that isoutside an acceptable range and is also approaching, but just outsideof, an unsafe range may be shown in orange on the display 1260. Once aninstrument indicates an unsafe and potentially dangerous reading, thedisplay 1260 may show the reading above the instrument being red incolor.

The color coding related to the condition of the system as measured bythe instruments is instructive for a reader tasked with reading and/orrecording the instrument readings. When an instrument reading is outsideof an established and acceptable range, the reader can see instantlywhat color is shown in the display. The color-coded display ofinstrument readings instantly indicates the condition of the system to auser reading the instruments. As previously described, when aninstrument's real-time reading has been read and recorded, the readingdisplay is fully colored in, such as those readings shown forinstruments 1244 a-1244 e. For those instruments whose readings have notyet been recorded, the reading is still shown as a color-codedinstrument reading display. However, the reading display is not filledin with color but only has an outline that is color-coded indicatingwhether the reading for that particular instrument is within or outsideof an acceptable range, such as those readings shown for the valves 1231located within compressor 1230 b on the right side of skid 1216.Although instrument/sensor readings are not shown with respect tocompressor 1230 a shown in FIG. 12, it should be understood that, duringnormal operations, the display 1260 would also show readings from thevalves associated with this compressor 1230 a.

In addition to the color indicators, in some embodiments, the displaymay further show an actual reading as detected by the instrument. Asshown in FIG. 12, this may be a numerical value, such as a pressurereading on a pressure gauge, a temperature reading on a temperaturegauge, a flowrate on a flow meter, etc. This displayed reading is shownabove the instrument from which the reading is taken. It should beunderstood that the instrument reading values shown in FIG. 12 aremerely examples for the purposes of showing the appearance of thedisplay. Alternatively, the display may reproduce a digital rendering ofthe actual physical appearance of the particular instrument clearlyindicating the real-time measurement which can be read quickly at aglance by a reader and recorded.

This written description enables one of ordinary skill in the art tomake and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof.Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciatethe existence of many (but not all) variations, combinations, andequivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples herein.The invention should therefore not be limited by the above describedembodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methodswithin the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. It is intendedinstead that any claims with this application, or any claims that may beadded or amended, be interpreted to embrace all further modifications,changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices,and embodiments that may be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Although one or more of the foregoing embodiments is the most preferredat present, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize manypossible alternatives. For example, one may appreciate that the systemsand methods of the present invention include monitoring and controllingfluid hydrocarbon production, including natural gas and its relatedcomponents and associated fluids, whether the fields and skids arelocated onshore, offshore, or any combination thereof. Similarly, thehandheld computing device (HOWARDACD) includes computing devices thatare not necessarily held in the user's hand, but are rather worn in aheadset, embedded in clothing, attached to a remotely piloted vehicle orcraft, or in some other configuration of computation and communicationcapabilities. Likewise, one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciatethat the present invention's means for determining geographicalposition, such as a global navigation satellite system, includes otherposition fixing means such as visual bearings from landmarks with knownpositions, range and bearing from geodetic survey markers, or othergeographic position fixing means. One may also appreciate that theshort- and long-range communication systems of the present inventioninclude systems using unencrypted communications, encryptedcommunications, or one or more combinations thereof. Further, regardinga centralized data collection computer system, one of ordinary skill inthe art can appreciate that the data aggregating and analyzing functionsmay be distributed across several different data processors, includingsuch implementations as cloud computing systems, and that thecentralized data collection computer system is not limited to a singlephysical device. In any case, all substantially equivalent systems,articles, and methods should be considered within the scope of thepresent invention.

We claim:
 1. A system and method for collecting and transmittinginformation from fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and controlequipment as shown and described.